06/05/2025
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.
Chronicles 16:33
A new Tree of Light wall hanging, which was specially designed
and made for Christ Church, Bells Corners, Ottawa, was installed in the choir area as part of the celebration of Pentecost.
The Tree of Light is framed in an arched, stone church window
frame, has jewel-coloured, rolling countryside, and a foreground
river with a magnificent tree in the centre. The tree has detailed,
pale bark which glows against the background and a halo of
shimmering leaves. A tree of light.
How did it come to be?
Since 2019 a group of women who were brought together during a program called New Horizons for Seniors that was held at the Anglican Parish of Huntley have been working
together to create various church hangings. Six hangings have been created; including one for the 129 th Women’s Cursillo Weekend and five for the Parish Hall in the Village of Carp.
During the 2023 Christ Church Advent services, I could not help but notice the large blank walls in the worship space. As an artist, I imagined what they would look like full of colour.
I spoke to Rev. Monique about the possibility of our group creating something for the blank wall in the choir area and outlined my vision based on the Celtic Tree of Life. After her
conversation with the Corporation and Parish Council, The Tree of Life wall hanging with the title; “Sing a New Song’ began.
Our group has found that the synergy of our combined ideas have resulted in wonderful wall hangings which have become greater than the sum of their parts. We hope that these offerings
of hand sewn quilts will continue to enrich the spaces in which they hang and inspire all who look upon them.
Over the years the sewing ladies have been Madonna Oliver, Lois Thompson, Lise Friesen, Dot Sweeney, Eleanor Johnston, Robin Morash, Deborah Coffin, Cherith Cook, Corrie Robillard,
Pauline Farey, and myself - Gillian Mattock, co-ordinator and designer of all images.
Gillian Mattock, former CCBC member now residing in Northern Alberta.
